Specialized athletic ability. It's tough to find another Lionel Conacher because you need to specialize in a sport now in order to get into it at a professional level. The all-around athletes get whittled out as you move up the ranks now. Remember the kid in high school that played on both sides of the ball in high school football? How'd he do as a cornerback in college? Remember the athletic quarterback in college that also played on the basketball team? How'd he do in the pros? Right.

There are some exceptions out there, but there's just too much competition for that to be a noteworthy reality any more.

No. I agree with the specializing rationale above, but the specialization also goes to economic motive. If Lebron, at 18, said he wanted to play in the NFL too, that would put a lot of his earning ability in question for little or no gain.

I think so. Do you guys really believe "specialization" sets them apart? It's a matter of the risk to the team they're on, and their self. LeBron could play tight end. He's an athlete.. Just depends on when someone feels like doing it, in my opinion.

ulf wrote:I think so. Do you guys really believe "specialization" sets them apart? It's a matter of the risk to the team they're on, and their self. LeBron could play tight end. He's an athlete.. Just depends on when someone feels like doing it, in my opinion.

Funny - one of my current MBA students used to be on two NFL rosters (mostly practice squad,I believe) and he was a professional basketball player in Germany. And he was on all-conference academic honor roll...

A guy I went to high school with played D1 quarterback. He was about 6'4, 6'5. Was a star basketball player too. I always thought he was a better basketball player than quarterback, but he thought his best chance at a pro pay day was QB.